Prediction: Blazers will have the 8th seed all season long...

Yeah sometimes I just don't get why people think that rebuilding through draft is the key. People claim that Portland is a small market; which will not entice people to stay; yet almost every player we wanted to keep in Portland, stays in Portland. We also lost in the first round for 6 straight years in the 90's; then built a team that made it to the WCF two years in a row; with being only 4 minutes away from winning it all the second time around.

 

I agree with those wanting to make the playoffs...what was Scott Brooks quote about learning to win? I forget the exact quote but it's spot on...building through the draft doesn't always work, as Blazers fans should know more than any other fanbase. Building through free agency doesn't always work. You try to win every game and let the front office do their best, and hope to get lucky at some point along the way.

 

Every time I think of us not having a draft pick I get sad. Cause I like the draft. It's fun watching all these guys with boundless potential join the team. Then I look at guys on our team like Babbitt and Leonard that were drafted around where our pick might be if it didn't go to the Bobcats and I'm not very optimistic about anyone we draft at that spot helping us any time soon. I think signing another decent veteran for whatever cap space we have left after resigning Hickson (or signing a different free agent big man) would be much more likely to improve this team and I think that's much more likely to happen if we make the playoffs.

 

Trader bob had an eye for talent.

 

None of what you're saying matters though. The team we have now is winning. They're exceeding your expectations and it is what it is. We're not going to get a draft pick this year. But we have five rookies NOW to develop as the year goes on. Also, Babbitt is developing well and will be a better player at the end of the year than he is now. Lillard will be better and even better next season once he's had a chance to figure things out. He's playing against his idols and winning. It's a lot for him to process. He's having a better rookie year than Durant did. Batum is becoming a better player every night as well. The current core will be a better team next year even if we added no pieces at all. A taste of the playoffs or of barely missing the playoffs will give the players something to shoot for when training camp begins. Oh, I forgot to mention Leonard. He is going to be very good in 2-3 years. And then we add pieces with our cap space. That's just the way it is, Nik. Accept it. If you want to be a Kings fan or Cavs fan, fine. They're adding pieces through the draft every year. Enjoy.

Go Blazers

 

Babbitt was 16th, Leonard was 11th, that's about our range right now if we had a pick. The players in this range are often good, rarely great, basketball players.
I wouldn't mind adding another Babbitt/Leonard type potential. It does kinda suck that we probably wouldn't have a pick this year.

 

If you're satisfied with a team that is OK, but will never be great (i.e. in serious position to contend) then fuck it, we're set.

I'll be curious to see if your tone changes in 3 months after the brutal stretch of the schedule we have coming up. The law of averages are about to catch up with this team.

 

I keep bringing up the years Portland lost in the first round for a stretch of 6 years in a row; then made it to the wcf two times after. Our own team did this. So our team proven your statement incorrect.

 

A different era, different CBA and those WCF appearances happened after a series of massive trades by Trader Bob. But then again, back then Paul was willing to outspend the rest of the league when it came to salary, I doubt that's his plan this time around.

 

I suspect Paul may just do that though. It could be possible that Allen was jocking for the new CBA because he doesn't mind paying the tax. That's only if he sees a possible contention team. If we make the playoffs and possibly take a team to 6 or 7 in the first round; Allen's pocket book may open up.

 

So is that why the Blazers just went through 2 rounds of layoffs? Doesn't add up.

 

Well at that time, the CBA negotiations were taking place. If Allen wants the new CBA to pass; then he can't go around spending the farm on players. Also, during that stretch there was a lot of questions.
1.) Will Roy stay healthy?
2.) Will Oden ever fucking play?
3.) Do we have an answer at PG?
4.) Will we ever get a decent GM?
5.) Will we have a coach that can coach a talented team?

During that stretch, we had a possible dominant trio of Roy, Aldridge and Oden. We all know how that worked for us. There was also question about Roy's max contract still being on our cap. Once the new CBA gave amnesty to a team; then we could start from ground zero.

Now if this team actually makes the playoffs and gives the team a run for their money in the first round; then the team really only needs role players and specialists. It's pretty apparent that our bench is insanely terrible. With even a shit bench, our team is 4 games over .500. Imagine the win total if we actually had an average bench?

Then you add the emergence of Batum and the unimaginable production and leadership of Lillard. Lillard will only get better. Aldridge is already getting better on the defensive end and Batum is really starting to blossom as a playmaker and "scoring without the ball".

So what is it that we truly need?

1.) Better defense
2.) Better bench
3.) More efficient team rebounding
4.) More efficient paint scoring.

Well sometimes you can score in the paint more with good defense. Get a steal, block or good rebound and run the other way. Obviously most of the scoring will be on the break; which leads to points in the paint.

To add on these needs; you don't need "max players" or "All-stars". You need journey men like a Battie (Defense) or Reddick (scoring). You look for players with playoff experience to help get past that hump. These type of bench players are getting around 3-4 mil per for guards, 5-6 for swings/PF and 7-8 for centers. All of these players are going to be coming off the bench; which leads us to only one player in question. How do we get a starting 7 foot center?

That's going to cost us around 10-12 mil per. We obviously need someone that can defend and rebound. So we must pay for that type of talent. Hickson would be a perfect compliment off the bench; but I think his price will be around 9 mil; which is 4-5 more mil for a back-up role player.

So if we renounce Hickson; then we have that 12 mil to offer a center. Or we could muster a sign and trade with Hickson this off-season for someone's redundant center. Or maybe Hickson really likes Portland and will be willing to sign a multi-year 5-6 mil per contract; which is unrealistic but one can dream right? Now that our cap is flexed; we still have Max MLE and Vet mins. Max MLE could be used for Reddick and Vet MLE can be used to sign some journeymen just wanting to be on a winning organization.

 

Mags, none of that addresses the notion of PA getting ready to go on a spending spree.

 

You're right man, but it's a step to get past the first round. Then once Allen understands we really have a shot; then we can pull a trade like the ones we did in the Summer of 1999. Sending a group of players to land one marquee player. Then we use more MAX MLE or MLE's to get a bench. Then we would be in the luxury threshold.

 

I meant Shane! Hahahahaha

 

Neither you or I have control over whether they win or lose. You're acting like I have a choice and you want me to choose losing. It is what it is. It's not my fault if we make the playoffs.

 

What's a step to getting past the first round? Adding a guy like Pekovic for ~12 million? Yeah, maybe (if they can also draft/sign some bench depth and maybe an upgrade at the 2) but just standing pat and keeping Hickson and then rounding out the roster with an MLE level guy and some vet minimum players probably guarantees this team tops out at around an 8th-6th seed and more early exits.

I realize most don't believe this because this team has exceeded most people's expectations for this year, but this isn't a sustainable playoff level team. They're fringe at best right now and some middling talent added to the bench might shore up some weaknesses, but it doesn't add enough firepower to contend.

 

Says the guy with the power to hex the team into guaranteed losses when he goes to their games ...

 

I do agree that the Blazers are seriously exceeding expectations. Anyone that says otherwise is just kidding themselves.